Man charged after aiming gun at protesters on Bay Street

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Savannah Police say one man is facing charges after throwing an unknown object and pointing a gun at a group of protestors Saturday afternoon.

34-year-old Fredrick James, of Decatur, Ga., is facing charges of aggravated assault and reckless conduct.

Protest organizer Kate Bender spoke with WTOC on Sunday afternoon. She says that she and a fellow organizer led a march from Forsyth Park in protest of Breonna Taylor’s death. The group organized outside of City Hall and continued to protest before ending the march. Another group of 15 people then laid down in the westbound lanes of Bay Street with the intention of remaining there for eight minutes and 42 seconds. This length of time was to represent how long former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd’s neck.

Police say James threw something at the group. Protesters can be seen attacking the truck, prompting him to exit holding what looks like a gun. Protesters quickly dispersed before James got in his truck and drove away.

According to the police report the majority of the protestors left before officers showed up, but four people were still on scene and shared with police their details and pictures of the truck. A witness also told police protestors had thrown a bike and thermos at the truck before the driver got out, pointing a gun at them.

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